Protectionist Wins Group One In Germany

Aug 15 2016

The Australian-owned Protectionist has now won all three starts in Germany this year following his return to his original trainer Andreas Wohler after his fruitless 2015 campaign in Australia with Newcastle trainer Kris Lees.

He won first-up over 11 furlongs at Dusseldorf in June followed by a victory in Hamburg’s G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis last month.

Protectionist started an odds on favourite in Sunday’s 12 furlong contest where he was ridden by Panamanian jockey Eduardo Pedroza.

He was forced into the unexpected role of leader in a small field of six before racing clear in the closing stages to win by an emphatic 2.5 lengths.

Protectionist is owned by the Newcastle based syndicators Australian Bloodstock with the 6YO entire now boasting seven wins and four placings from only 20 starts.

Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett was on hand for the Berlin win and while delighted by the result indicated a return to Australia by the 6YO entire for another Melbourne Cup assault was unlikely.

"This is a very special horse,” Lovett said.

“I have to thank Andreas Wohler for a great job. We clearly made the right decision to send Protectionist back to Germany."

Wohler said he now plans to start Protectionist in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in three weeks and after that consider options that will include the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris in October.

<b>Australian Bloodstock also had their recent acquisition Red Cardinal finish third in the G3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury in the UK on Saturday in his final start before he departs for a spring campaign in Melbourne.</b>

Red Cardinal challenged the winner Kings Fete for the last half of the 12 furlong race before he was headed late for second place in his first start in a Group race after winning his three previous starts.